Why Are My Gums Bleeding?

It is an irritating issue that most people have experienced at least once. 

You brush your teeth, and when you spit out the toothpaste, there is a red or pink streak indicating that you have been bleeding. Not exactly fun!

If this is a one-off, it's not that important, although you should discuss with your dentist what it is that you may be doing wrong, causing your teeth and gums to bleed when you brush. However, if it is a recurring problem you notice repeatedly, it may be an underlying symptom or something that is a little bit more serious.

This article from BAF Dentistry will walk you through the most common causes of bleeding gums and will help you to figure out the best course of action. In most cases it's to go to a dentist or hygienist, but we will get to that later!

Causes of Bleeding Gums

You may be asking, 'why are my gums bleeding' as you rinse your mouth out after another brushing session, and, as mentioned in the intro, if it is the first time it has happened in a while, it is usually nothing to worry about.

It may be that you have a hard toothbrush or that your brushing technique needs some adjusting. Or it may even be that you are being too aggressive when flossing!

However, if the dreaded red/pink toothpaste rinse is a recurring thing, there is an underlying health condition that needs to be addressed with the help of our dental team. So, let's explore the common causes of bleeding gums below. 

Gum Disease

In most cases of bleeding gums, the underlying issue is gum disease. Or periodontal disease. Or gingivitis; all of them mean the same thing!

When you have gum disease, you may have red or swollen gums that are sore to touch and may even begin to pull away from the teeth. The underlying reason for gum disease is usually poor oral hygiene. That is, plaque on your teeth is not being removed when you brush your teeth twice a day. This plaque is irritating to the sensitive gum tissue, and, when it comes into contact for prolonged periods, it causes an inflammatory response.

The result is swollen gum tissue, which is often tender to touch and bleeds when it is brushed.

In most cases, gingivitis and mild gum disease can be treated at home with an antibacterial mouthwash. However, if it is more extensive or severe, you will need to see your dental hygienist for scale and polish. This will remove the plaque that is underneath the gum, which may be causing the gums to pull away from the teeth and will stop the gum problem from leading to lost teeth. It may also be worth investing in a water flosser and some antibacterial toothpaste, as both will help stop bleeding from the mouth. However, discuss this with your dentist, or even our team at BAF Dentistry if you are on the lookout for a new dental team!

Recent Dental Work

It may be the case that you have recently undertaken some dental work. This could include a dental extraction, a dental filling, a root canal, or a different kind of dental restoration. It might even be the case that you're wearing braces and have recently had them adjusted. For a short period of time after all of these interactions with a dental team, some minor bleeding is not uncommon, especially if you are wearing fitted braces. As mentioned before, the gum tissue is very sensitive, and any work or prodding that typically occurs with dental procedures can cause minor swelling and bleeding.

Health Issues

One of the other causes of bleeding gums, which is rarer, is an underlying health issue that you may not be aware of. Typical examples include hemophilia and von Willebrand disease. Both are clotting disorders, which means that if you injure the skin and cause an open wound anywhere on the body, there will be excessive bleeding simply because the blood is not clotting correctly.

This is an issue that you need to take up with your doctor, and if you are diagnosed with these, you need to discuss this with your dentist as this can impact future dental work, as it is likely to be a cause of bleeding gums in the future. You may even have a Vitamin C deficiency, which is linked to bleeding gums and mental health issues. Our team at BAF Dentistry have a lot of expertise working with patients with comorbid health issues alongside a complex dental history, and we can happily discuss these issues with you.

Cancer

So, jumping to the least likely candidate in the order of statistics (depending on your lifestyle), bleeding gums can be a sign of cancer. However, this rarely occurs in isolation; if you have cancer of the mouth, the gums, or the oral tissue, there will usually be recurrent ulcers, as well as loose teeth and lumps. All of which will be detected at your biannual checkups. So don't panic if you have bleeding gums. It's not likely to be cancer. However, the chances will increase if you smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol.

Medications

Many prescribed and over-the-counter medications can cause your gums to bleed.

If you are taking an anticoagulant or a blood thinner, this mimics hemophilia, which can cause you to experience oral bleeding when you brush. Over-the-counter medications, such as aspirin and anti-inflammatories (if taken excessively), may also cause bleeding when brushing teeth. 

There have also been reports of anti-seizure medications, blood pressure medications, and even certain antidepressants being linked to bleeding gums. So, if you have recently started a new medication and now your gums are bleeding, this is worth discussing with your doctor and our dental team. It may also be the case that you have been on a medication for a long time and have suddenly developed oral issues, which our team and BAF Dentistry will be able to diagnose and will look at how to stop this side effect with the help of your medical team.

Remember, in most cases, dental bleeding can be caused by something as simple as poor brushing technique or mild inflammation due to poor oral hygiene. If it is persistent, you need to seek help from a highly skilled, highly trained dental team like ours at the BAF Dentistry. So, call us today!